The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-21
A Grandfather For Sale.

Its all very we'll for YOU, Cabot. to
quote that trite remark about rank being
only the guinca's stamp. You know IL
well rs do that the social guinea-hcre
in Boston, of all places-musi he stamped
before il will go into circulation. Society
strongly resembles retail trade in this one
particular Let me offer a lump of the
purcst gold to any small dealer as pay
ment for the goods have bought of him.
and he would at once say he'd rather
have the dirtieSt bank in town than
my unstamped metal; wouldn't he?"
We'll suppose he would. If we were
in a more primitive state of existence the
yellow metal. aS it came from mother
earth, would satisfy our greed. Now it
has to he vouched for as gold before it
can take its proper position among the
other circulating mediums.
Exactly 50, And rs we are not in
primitive state. but Il very highly cul-
turcrl oHc, |. for example. need to have
a stamp before can pass muster. All
the wealth my Midas of father left to
me VII not take me more than Just 50
far: yc. dress according 10 the laws of
to-day. don't eat with my knife. know
how t. raise my hat to lady: in short,
fatt,r myself that make a fairly good APP
pca;sucr. But I have no grandfather
wort -pcaking off, And though there
was mock pathos in his tone. Maxwell
Jennings meant more of what he said
than he would have been willing his COM
panion should suspect
Edgar Cabot glanced ut him little
contcmptuously; then he allowed his
eyes tn wander enviously around the
luxurious appointments of Maxwell's
rooms Everything bespoke an abund-
auce of both money and taste on the
part of the one who resided there A
casual observer would never have sup
posed that man who could appreciate
the cngravings and books which crowded
the walls and tables was IA mushroom of
an hour, the son of man who had
amassed a large fortune by the mahtlfac-
ture of rum and judiciOus speculations in
stocks and mines. The moment that Tom
Jennings's business and all other posses
sions fell into his sons hands, that young
man sold the obnoxious distilleries and
went abroad for three years to finish the
studies his father had sent him there to
begin. Old Tom Jennings had the sense
to know that he could never aspire to
any higher position in life than the one
he was born Into; but he was determined
to make Max gentleman. and so far
as cultivation and study could do it, he
succeeded.
by Jupiter, Jennings, if had 1.-THE
of your money wouldn't care a plea
yune if hadn't Il grandfather" sighed
Cabot. whose bank account was as short
as his pedigree was long
And |, Cabot. would give a hundred
thousand dollars this minute if had one
of your digniticd ancestors" Jennings
answered, earnestly. "leS, I'd give il
gladly if in any way could claim a
grcat-unclc or grandfather of note
"A fellow has perfect right to sell
what is individually his own. hasn't he:'
asked Cabot, thoughtfully.
"Of course he has.
" a. everyone knows. am the last OF
my line of the Cabots. | am badly in
want of money; YOU think yonrself-or
to be more exact. DIR. and Mrs. Randall
think yOu-badly in want of ancestors
What will you give me for, say old
Colonel Cabot! The one, you know, who
was Killed in King Philips war;
What an absurd idea exclaimed
Jennings. with laugh.
- Not nj an absurd The old codgel
is now my great uncle; if | sell him tC
you, why, of course, he'll be yours. Or
if you don't like him, there's my grand
father, Judge Cabot-how will he FL
your bill Now, Jennings, don. look 81